Sail Beyond Cancer Annapolis (SBCA) offers free three-hour private sails on the Chesapeake Bay for those being challenged by cancer and their loved ones. Each nominee, as they are called, may bring along five guests.
Sail Beyond Cancer volunteers make the magic happen.
With the exception of a part-time executive director, SBCA is managed and operated by volunteers who coordinate with nominees to schedule the sails. Each sail is conducted by volunteer crew members consisting of an ambassador, first mate, and captain. SBCA volunteers dedicate many hours to ensure that nominees and their loved ones have the best experience possible.
Ian Diamond is one of SBCA’s new captain volunteers this season. Recently retired, Ian uses his own vessel, a 42-foot Jeanneau Sun Odyssey, to conduct respite and memorial sails. While most of the sails originate in the Annapolis area, Ian has enabled SBCA to expand its reach and conduct sails from the Eastern Shore. Ian will be sailing from his home port, the Wharf at Handy’s Point, on Worton Creek, north of Chestertown.
Ian heard about the organization from a fellow volunteer captain, Bill Folkerts. While sailing with Bill, they talked about SBCA’s mission; Ian wanted to volunteer to make a difference. He saw it as a chance to provide some relief and joy to those suffering from cancer.
Ian’s most memorable sail was one with an eight-year-old boy and his family. The child had had more than 100 cancer treatments, and he and his family simply wanted a day to get away and create some lasting memories. Ian said, “My hope is that, when a participant gets off the boat, he says, ‘I hope I get to do that again.’”
SBCA is in its fourth year of operations on the Chesapeake. Anyone in treatment for cancer, any type of cancer, no matter where they reside or what age, is eligible to come sailing. Learn more at sailbeyondcancer.org/annapolis-md-chapter
